Respiratory epithelial cell culture models for evaluation of ion and drug transport

This review presents the advances in respiratory epithelial cell culture developed for biochemical, ion transport, and drug transport characterization in the conducting airway (trachea and bronchi) and the alveolar region. An overview of the culture conditions for the growth and differentiation of respiratory epithelial cells along with a summary of the recent progress in ion and drug transport is described. The physicochemical factors that strongly influence transepithelial drug permeation, as well as some of the specialized transport processes involved in active solute and macromolecular transport are discussed. The permeability characteristics of the airway and alveolar epithelial culture models have been compared to shed some light on regional differences of respiratory epithelial permeability. In addition, these results are validated against other in vitro and in vivo models as a predictive indicator of in vivo permeability.